Careers Education and Guidance for Changing Contexts: Entrepreneurship and Motivation

1. Careers Education and Guidance for Changing Contexts: Entrepreneurship and Motivation Peter Beven Northumbria University

2. For inviting me from here: (3 Celsius) Thank you

3. Economic crisis in the EU • Unemployment • Social unrest • Uncertainty about the future • Massive coverage in the media • How does this fit with an entrepreneurial spirit? Changing Contexts

4. Must not end up blaming individuals for global economic changes BUT • Often individuals can do more to develop their skills and opportunities Avoiding the Blame Game

5. (People) are disturbed, not by things, but by the principles and notions which they form concerning things Epictetus Επίκτητος

6. What is the point… there are no jobs • I blame the government • I’m stuck….. • But remember … uncertainty in career education and guidance is NOT a new concept Reactions to Change

7. Decision Making: Planned Happenstance • Motivation and readiness for change Some ideas to inform career education and guidance

8. ‘classical decision theory or rational decision strategies … are simply no longer sufficient for today’s complex changing world … changing one’s mind will be an essential skill in the future’. (Gelatt) Why work with chance?

9. Life is complex and changeable. Rational matching is not sufficient People have diverse decision making mind-sets …these can be as effective (if not more so) as rational decision making Coping with uncertainty, being flexible are desirable employability skills Why work with chance?

11. How can we contribute to chance events? being ready and willing to take action being open-minded and flexible taking a risk and seizing the opportunity networking …. being ‘out there’ talking to people being involved … voluntary work, interests, learning Exploring, being curious Staying positive/ optimistic

12. Assisting clients to develop skills

13. Reframe career myths e.g. there is a perfect job out there Challenge the notion that you need to decide before taking action Engage client in curious exploration: network, learning, build confidence, try different things Planned happenstance in action

14. Screening / diagnostic questionnaires shift the focus from having a plan careers education/ guidance activities and resourcesfacilitate learning of… different approaches to decision making,curiosity,flexibility, persistence, optimism, risk-taking Other implications

15. “Careers counsellors have not been trained to be comfortable with a client who remains undecided for very long” Mitchell (2003) Practitioner values

16. Acknowledge - it is normal, inevitable and even desirable for unplanned events to influence careers Think of indecision not as a problem to be remedied but a useful state Help young people to develop skills that will enable them to take advantage of unplanned events Advice for career practitioners

17. ‘Careers are seldom planned but are often developed by being aware of and acting on the landmarks that appear on the way’ ‘An unplanned career is full of opportunity’ Kathleen Mitchell(2003)

18. The stages of change model • Some aspects of the Miller and Rollnick motivational interviewing model • To understand the need for a repertoire tactics appropriate to the individual’s readiness Motivational Interviewing

19. 1.giving of a reason to act: the act of giving somebody a reason or incentive to do something • 2.enthusiasm: a feeling of interest or enthusiasm that makes somebody want to do something, or something that causes such a feeling Motivation [motiváysh’n] (plural motivations) noun

20. Unmotivated  Extrinsic (responsive to outside influences or sanctions)  Intrinsic (responsive to internal reasons and wishes) Where behaviour change is intrinsic, more likely to be longer lasting. This links directly with Motivational Interviewing principles Self Determination

21. Should not categorise people as intrinsically “Motivated” or “Unmotivated” • Need to view motivation as a state of readiness to take action – which will vary from one time to another • The way an interviewer relates to an individual affects the outcome: there can be significant changes even with Young Persons appearing “unmotivated” Motivational Interviewing

22. Need to identify at what stage the person is at with regard to readiness to change • Prochaska and DiClemente- researchers who have described a series of stages through which people pass in the course of managing a problem • “The Wheel of Change” Assessing motivation

23. Wheel of Change Pre-Contemplation Relapse Contemplation Determination Wheel of Change Maintenance Action Permanent Exit

24. It is a circle: common for people to move round several times • Provides windows of opportunity where advisers can have significant influence • Different skills needed at different stages of the wheel of change Wheel of Change

25. The young person not yet thinking about the possibility of change • May report: “I haven’t got a problem” • May express surprise there's anything to discuss • May be defensive pre-contemplators: “I’m only here because they force me to come here” • May have been referred by other people Pre-contemplation stage

26. Reluctant precontemplators: who don’t want to consider change; may be unaware of the effect of problem behaviour; may feel comfortable where they are • Rebellious precontemplators: unlike the above, often have a great deal of knowledge about their behaviour; may be hostile to the idea of change Pre-contemplation: Four variations on a theme

27. The Resigned Precontemplator: Have given up on the possibility of change and seem overwhelmed by the problem. • The Rationalising Precontemplator: often appears to have all the answers. Not considering change because believe their situation is due to someone else’s problem / mistake Pre-contemplation: Four variations on a theme (cont’d)

28. Some Awareness of the Problem • Characterised by “Ambivalence” • Both considers change and rejects it • Moves between reasons to change and reasons not to change Contemplation Stage

29. Where the balance tips towards intention to act • “I can’t go on like this” • “What can I do? • “How can I change this?” • “I’ve got to do something about this” Determination Stage

30. The “Doing” Stage • What most people think of as advice and guidance: • The search for strategies to help the person bring about a change • Helping the Young Person to identify options and supporting them in reaching goals: E.g. Information, advice, guidance Action Stage

31. This is about staying on track with the change plan • Helping the individual not to lose ground if plan does not work out immediately • E.g. maintaining morale in the face of a rejection of a job application Maintenance

32. Relapse is when an individual, having made some attempt to change “reverts back” to problematic behaviour or lifestyle • A key task here is to provide support to try to help the young person to avoid discouragement and demoralisation • Try to renew determination to act Relapse

33. Question- answer trap • Confrontation – denial trap • The “Expert” trap • Labelling trap • Premature Focus trap • Blaming trap Avoiding “traps” in Interviews

34. Express empathy • Develop discrepancy • Avoid Argumentation • Roll with Resistance • Support young person in belief that they can make changes (self efficacy) Principles of Good Practice

35. Ask Open Questions • Listen reflectively • Summarise • Affirm • Encourage self motivational statements: problem recognition, concern, intention to change and optimism for change Opening Strategies

36. Asking evocative questions • Exploring pros and cons • Asking for elaboration • Imagining Extremes • Looking Forward • Looking Back Developing Self Motivation

37. Make a Summary Reflection: • Review: concerns, any reluctance, • incorporate self motivational statements from earlier in the interview • Ask the “Key Question” • Young Person to suggest next steps • Follow answer with reflective listening • Help individual identify priorities • Negotiate plan for change Moving towards Action: Transition Stage

38. Email: peter.beven@northumbria.ac.uk Web Page: http://www.guidanceandcounselling.co.uk Tel: +44 191 2156214 Contact Details